Press Release

July 14, 2010

Western National Named a Top 50 Company

(Minneapolis, Minn.) Western National Insurance Group today announced that it has been named to the 2010 Ward's 50 Benchmark Group of top performing property/casualty companies in the United States.  Being named to this group recognizes Western National for achieving outstanding financial results in the areas of safety, consistency, and performance over a five-year period (2005–2009).  This is the fifth time in six years that Western National has been named to this list of top performers.

"We are very pleased to be recognized again by the Ward Group® as an industry leader in financial strength and performance," said Stuart Henderson, president and chief executive officer.  "It is a testament to the quality of our business plan, as well as to the dedicated work of our employees, independent agents, and other business partners, that we have been able to maintain financial strength and stability through an otherwise unstable period in economic history.  We look forward to building on this financial strength for the continued protection of our policyholders in 2010 and beyond.”

Ward Group®, a Cincinnati, Ohio-based consulting firm that specializes in the insurance industry, annually reviews the financial results of over 3,000 Property/Casualty insurance companies, selecting the top 50 performers.  This group of 50 companies is referred to as the "Ward's 50".

Western National Insurance Group, headquartered in Edina, Minn., is a super-regional property-and-casualty insurance group writing over $240 million in Direct Premium in ten states.  The group consists of five active companies (Western National Mutual Insurance Company, Western National Assurance Company, Pioneer Specialty Insurance Company, Titan Property & Casualty Insurance Company, and Wisconsin American Mutual Insurance Company) serving personal and commercial customers in the Midwestern and Western U.S.  All of the group’s products are sold exclusively through professional independent agents.

For further information, contact:

Mary S. Manley
SVP Corporate Affairs & Administration
952-921-3820
mary.manley@wnins.com